Are you looking to cook goat leg at home? Make sure to read these important tips before you start! Here’s an unpopular opinion- goat meat is tasty, fall-off-the-bone tender and juicy. Here’s the disclaimer- you must know HOW to cook it!

Goat leg is one of the most forgiving cuts of the goat with a mild, gamey taste and if properly cooked, it can be amazingly flavorful and can give a tough competition to all other meats.

The popularity of this meat is growing with more traditional ways of cooking (like roasting and slow cooking) and nowadays, it is also easily available. Goat meat is also called chevon and can be cooked just like lamb. It is a leaner and healthier option compared to lamb or beef as it has less saturated fat and cholesterol.

To get 100% fresh, halal goat leg delivered to you in a hygienically packed manner, visit ND Fresh. And if you are trying to make goat leg at home, make a note of these tips-

Slow cook

Use a dry rub to flavor the meat and ensure it does not dry out during a slow cook. The rub can be a simple one using just a few ingredients like salt, a little bit of sugar, garlic powder and onion powder. You can use other spices, but the beauty of goat meat is that it does not need heavy spices to bring out its natural flavor. If slow cooking in a pot, add in onions, carrots, and potatoes to enhance the taste.

Resting

After dry rubbing, wrap the goat leg tightly in foil or place it on a roasting pan and allow it to rest for 24 hours in the fridge. This allows the salt and sugar to release moisture out from the meat which gets trapped in the foil and helps to braise the meat. Also remember to bring the meat to room temperature before cooking it.

Temperature

Goat meat has low fat content, and this will make it lose moisture faster and become tougher. Therefore, it’s important to cook the meat slowly over low temperatures to retain the moisture and flavors. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees and before putting in the goat leg, turn down the temperature to 300 degrees. This method sears the exterior of the meat and ensures a tender roast.

Time

To get fall off the bone meat, slow cook the goat leg for 6-8 hours (for a 3 pound meat). When you get the timing right, the meat will just melt in your mouth!

The cut

Pick the goat leg only if you are looking to slow cook the meat. If frying or grilling is what you aim for, then go for tender cuts from goat kids which are juicier. It's always good to know about different cuts of goat because different cuts need different style of treatment.

For some culinary inspiration, here are some interesting dishes featuring goat meat from around the world-

1. Jamaica goat curry- a stew seasoned with turmeric, coriander, cumin, thyme, peppers and served with beans and rice.
2. Mexican barbacoa tacos- goat wrapped in banana leaves and slow-cooked in an underground oven lined with hot coals
3. Indian goat biriyani- loaded with spices, this dish is made with goat meat (marinated in yogurt) and layered with rice and caramelized onions.
   
4. Middle eastern Shawarma- a treat of bursting flavors, goat meat is slow roasted and the outer caramelized layer is shaved off and served in flatbread with vegetables, pickles or herbs and a generous spread of hummus or garlic yogurt.

No matter what method you choose, make sure you thoroughly cook goat meat for it to be appealing- unlike lamb or beef, it is not to be served rare. You can buy goat leg online at reasonable prices from ND Fresh. There is *no delivery fee for Toronto GTA and the premium quality speaks for itself!